Skein and Hook

I am so excited I finished this blanket and finally get to use it!  I first wrote about it here and then here .   I hope you enjoy making it as much as I did.   If you are interested in buying the yarn for it, I sell the kit in my Etsy store   here .  You will have plenty of yarn leftover to make something else with which is a bonus because this yarn is awesome!! You can buy the pattern on Etsy and Ravelry .  Skein and Hook Copyright © 2014 The pattern and photographs contained in this document are the property of Skein and Hook.  This pattern is available for personal use only.  This pattern may be printed for your personal use only.  You may not in any form copy, redistribute, sell, or represent this pattern or photos as your own.   Please do not copy this post and claim it as your own.  Please do not republish photos from this post and claim them as your own.   You are welcomed to ...

Merry Christmas in July!  Christmas is my most favorite time of year.  I love everything about it- cooking, baking, decorating, buying and wrapping gifts, sitting by a nice fire on a snowy evening...so many traditions.  It is wonderful. This month I'm celebrating Christmas in July!  I have been working on Christmas decorations over here and I'll be releasing each one as soon as I complete it.  My first release is Mistletoe! This decoration is festive and beautiful.  I used green and red wool (Cascade 220) to make the mistletoe and bow and then adorned the branches with pearl beads. It's perfect for a wall hanging or hanging from a doorway.  Mine measures about 7" from top of the hanger to the bottom of the longest branch but, really, you can make this in any size by varying your yarn and hook. Time to start getting your homemade gifts ready for Christmas...it's coming!  Enjoy!  You can buy this pattern on Etsy and Ravelry...

Today I released the pattern for my Upton Baby booties.  I worked these up originally for a baby gift for a family member and liked them so much that I worked up the pattern in two sizes.  What I like about these is that they are unisex and you can really change the style of each one by varying colors and buttons used. I made these two baby boy versions- Then I made this casual girl version-  Then I made this more dressed up girl version.  I was thinking Blessing booties or holiday booties. You can find this free pattern here .

I really like this homemade Bisquick mix.  I use it in cookies, pancakes, quiches, any recipe that calls for Bisquick.  I try to keep a zip-lock bag of it in my refrigerator all the time.  I find it stores much longer in the refrigerator but its not necessary if you don't want to. 6  c all-purpose flour 3  Tbsp baking powder 2  Tbsp powdered sugar 1 1/2  tsp kosher salt 3/4  tsp baking soda 9  Tbsp canola oil You can make this in a stand mixer, food processor, or by hand.  Combine all of the ingredients and mix until uniform.  Store in a zip top bag or air tight container.  Use it in any recipe that calls for Bisquick.

I love a good caesar salad.  It's not something I eat often but every now and then I really get in the mood for it and today is that day.  I looked around a little online.  I started with a recipe from Pioneer Woman and then just tweaked until it was right for me.  When I make this for my kids, I leave out the parmesan cheese and it is still really, really good.  Also, you could easily add grilled chicken to make it a main dish for lunch or dinner.  Here is what I did- Mixed the dressing- juice of 1 lemon, about 2 tablespoons 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 1/2 tablespoons canola mayonnaise 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce Combine the above ingredients and let sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes to 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. Make the croutons- 1/2 to 1 loaf french/italian bread (depending on how many you want to make) canola oil garlic powder salt and pepper italian seasoning Cut the bread into cubes and put on a baking sheet.  ...

I love Nigella Lawson.  I have all of her cookbooks.  I love her recipes even if I don't make all of them.  I love how she describes food- she makes it magical.  Every single description and word she utters about food is poetry. This recipe is based on her Rapid Ragu in the cookbook Nigella Express.  I have changed it quite a bit and possibly massacred it in her eyes but I make it with what I have on hand.  And to me (never really having the original version), it is great. 2 tbsp canola oil 1 onion a few slices of bacon, I have used both already cooked, leftover from breakfast and raw bacon both with great success 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 pound ground beef 1 can diced tomatoes 14.5oz 3/4 cup white wine (I usually use Pinot Grigio) 1/2 cup lentils 3/4 cup water Saute onion in oil until starting to brown.  Add the bacon and cook either until the bacon is cooked though, if using raw, or heated, if using pre-cooked.  Add the garlic, sti...

I have always loved the look of a mitered square.  Most of them are knit though the crochet versions have been popping up more and more lately.  Here is a beautiful example of a knit mitered square blanket- Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/taniaho/4817508065/in/album-983985/ I have been wanting to come up with my own version of this for a while and here it is!  I have to say, I love it so much :) I love the bright colors and I love the soft, squishiness of Cascade Yarns Pacific yarn that I used.  I hope you love it too! You can find this free pattern here .  You can also buy a yarn kit to make this blanket on Etsy .